Dump trailer



Sept. 9, 1952 G. R. FIELDS ET AL DUMP TRAILER Filed Oct. 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WW QM 0. SP Mmm mm I E sw R m a S a A Nam Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Oct. 12, 1948 G. R. FIELDS ET AL DUMP TRAILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 9, 1952 e. R. FIELDS ET AL 2,610,087

DUMP TRAILER Filed Oct. 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet s Glenn R. Fields Samuel 5. Bumpus mmvrozas.

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p 9, 1952 G. R. FIELDS ET AL 2,610,087

DUMP TRAILER Filed Oct. 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/ g. 8. 17a 15a /30 \uuul Inventors Glenn H. Fields Samuel S. Bumpus WW 3m Patented Sept. 9, 195 2 orrlce DUMP TRAILER Glenn R. Fields, Gem, and Samuel S. Bumpus,

Eureka, Kans.

Application October 12, 1948, Serial N0.54,012 1 1 Claim. 1 l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in dump trailers, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate convenient and expeditious handling of grain, silage, coal, gravel, and other similar material, matters being so arranged that by employing the instant trailer, the load may be dumped by simply tilting the trailer body rearwardly, or alternatively, the trailer body may be elevated and doors in the bottom thereof opened, so that successive loads may be dumped or deposited one on top-of another.

"An important feature of the invention, therefore, resides in the provision of means for selectivelytilting the trailer body rearwardly and elevating the same in a vertical direction preparatory to the dumping operation.

Another feature of the invention resides inthe provision of a self-contained hydraulic unit on the trailer frame for selectively tilting or elevating the trailer body.

A still further feature of the invention lies in the provision of means for controlling the closing and opening-of the body doors andgates.

Important advantages of'the invention lie in its simplicity of construction, convenience of operation, and in its adaptability to economical manuiacture.

" With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially inthe plane of the line 4--4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 55 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken sub stantially in the plane of the line 6-6 in Figure 2 Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing the sliding gate in the rear end of the trailer body;

Figure 8 is a crosssectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8-8 in Figure 1; t Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the toggleclamps used in the invention; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the chain guideS used therein:

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a dump trailer designated generally by thereference character 20, the same embodying'in its construction a frame 22 including a pair of spaced parallel side members 24 formed from tubular material, forward continuations of these side members being; mutually convergent as shown at and being provided at the apex thereof with a suitable hitch 28s A substantially triangular base plate 30* is secured to the frame portions 26and a crossmember 32 is also secured to these frame portions, as

is best shown in Figure 2. Needless to say, the

trailer is intended to travel forwardly in thedirection of the arrow 34in Figure 2, the hitch 28 being at the front end of'the trailer, as will be clearly apparent.

The rear end portions of the frame members 24 carry rigidly mounted tubular sleeves 36- (see Figures 4 and 5) which, in turn, are equipped with bifurcated, rearward extensions 38.- Trans-.

verse axle shafts 40 are journaled in these bifurcated extensions and each axle shaft carries a' pair of traveling wheels 42. As is best shown in Figure 3, the traveling wheels in each pair straddle one of the frame side members 24, and a pair of upwardly extensible, rearwardly tiltable body supporting members designated generally by the reference character 44 are mounted on the shaft;

tween and straddled by'the furcations 38 of the associated sleeves 36 as is best shown in Figures 4 and 5. It is to be noted that by virtue of this arrangement, the sections 46, 48 maybe slid out-- wardly, that is, upwardly, as indicated at 54 in Figure 4, While at the same time, the entire member 44 may be tilted rearwardly, as at-56 (see also Figure 1). l

Upper end portions of the sections 43"of the two supporting members 44 are provided with transverse rods 58 which arerotatably journaled in the side portions of U-shaped brackets 60, the latter being rigidly secured as at 62 to the side walls 64 of the. trailer bodydesignated generally by the reference character 66; The attachment I52 of the brackets 6i] to the body walls 64 is best shown in Figure 6, and it will be also noted that the brackets 6!] include angulated intermediate portions 68 which are secured to the upper ends of the member sections 38 as at It.

The aforementioned adapters 52 of the supporting members M are provided with pairs of laterally projecting brackets I2, these carrying pairs of hydraulic cylinders I i equipped with pistons I6 and reciprocable piston rods I8 as detailed in Figure 4. Upper end portions of the piston rods I8 are operatively connected to the aforementioned rods or bars 58, so that when liquid under pressure is admitted into the cylinders I4, the

rods 18, through the medium of the bars or rods 58, cause the support sections 38 to travel upwardly as at 54, thus liftin or hoisting the trailer body 66 therewith. It should be understood that the cylinders M are of the single acting type, lowering of the body 66 being effected by gravity after liquid is permitted to flow outwardly from the hydraulic cylinders. i

A tilting member designated generally by the reference character 86 is provided at the forward portion of the trailer, this tilting member assuming the form of a hydraulic cylinder 82 pivoted as at 84 to the aforementioned cross member 32 of the frame 22, the cylinder I52 being equipped with a reciprocable piston. 86 which is pivotally connected as at 83 to the front end wall 98 of the trailer body 66.

As is best shown in Figure 2, the cylinder 82 is operatively connected by means of a hydraulic line 92 to a coupling 94, this coupling also being connected by further hydraulic lines 85, Q8 to I the two hydraulic cylinders it at each side of the trailer body. 96 extend from the coupling 94 to the front hydraulic cylinders I4 in each set, while the lines 9% connect the lines at to the rear hydraulic cylinders in each set, substantially as shown. Suitable clips I are employed for securing the lines 95 to the frame 22, and it will be also noted that the coupling 94 is connected as at I82 to a hydraulic pump Iii i actuated manually by means of an oscillatoryhandle Iilt. The pump I8 3 communicates as at, I68 with a hydraulic fluidreservoiriifi, the pump as well as the reservoir being mounted on theaforementioned base plate 36 of the frame 22.

Shut-off valves H2 are provided in the aforementioned lines 95, so that when these valves are closed, only the cylinder 62 will be energized by actuation of the pump Iii i. However, when the valves I I 2 are open, the cylinder 82 as well as the cylinders it will be energized concurrently upon manipulation of the hydraulic pump.

As a result, if the cylinder 82 is actuated per se, the body 68 will be tilted in the direction of the arrow 58 to a position shown by the phantom lines I I4 in Figure this being facilitated by the pivotalmounting of the supporting members '44 on the axle shafts it. However, when the cylinder 32 is actuated simultaneously with the cylinders M, the entire body 56 will be lifted in a vertical direction-as shown at 5 to a position indicated by the phantom lines II-S.

A suitable screw jack, or the like, indicated at I I3, may be provided under the forward end portion of the frame 22 for the purpose of retaining the frame in a substantially horizontal position while the trailer is stationary, as'will be clearly apparent (see Figure l).

A pair of upwardly extensible guide members 129 are also provided atthe forward end portion That is to say, the hydraulic lines ,tioned side walls downwardly convergent, so that they constitute 4 of the trailer at the sides of the tilting member 80, these guide members assuming the form of pairs of slidably telescoped sections I22, I24 which are pivoted to the cross member 32 and to the front end wall 98 of the body 66 as at I26 and I28, respectively. The purpose of these guide members is, of course, to provide lateral stabilization for the bodytt while the latter is being tilted or lifted, and it will be noted that the sections I22 of the members I29 are formed with rows of apertures I3Il (see Figure 8) in which suitable pins (not shown) may be inserted for the purpose of retaining the members I20 in predetermined extended position and thereby preventing the body from being accidentally lowered from its elevated or tilted position. I

. Referring now to the construction of the trailer body 6% per se, the same includes the aforement i, connected together by the aforementioned front wall 90 and by a rear wall upper portion I33. A substantially triangular rear wall lower portion [32 is hinged to the portion I33 as at I34, the portion !32 constituting what may be referred to as a gate which may be swung rearwardiy and outwardly upon tiltin of the body to a position shown at H4 in Figure 1, so that the contents of the body may be effectively discharged. As is best shown in Figure 7, the rear wall portion or gate I32 is also provided with a relatively small, substantially triangular gate I36 which is upwardly slidabl e in suitable guides i338 provided on the portion [32, so that upon actuation of a suitable lever I40 operatively connected to the gate I33, the latter may be raised to effect discharge of the load in small quantities, without the necessity of opening the entire gate I32. I l

The actual bottom of the body E6 is constituted by downwardly and outwardly openable pairs of doors Hi2, Mil which are hinged as at I46, I48, respectively, to the lower edges of the side walls 6 as is best shown in Figure 8.

The doors Hi2, IN are, of course, openable downwardly and outwardly as indicated'at I in Figure 8, but when the doors are closed, they are the bottom of the body, as has been already pointed out. The doors idihl i i are reinforced by tubular members iEZ, I55, While similar reinforcing members I53 are provided on the side walls 6 of the body 66, substantially as shown.

Moreover, the side walls 64* are reinforced by suitable tie rods IESIE, provided with turnbuckles M52, as will be clearly apparent.

Means are provided for controlling the opening and closing of the doors I42, I44, these means comprising lengths of chain I6 which areanchored at one end to the doors- I44 as at I66 (see Figure 8), these chains passing under the reinforcing members I 52 at the lower edges of the doors I42, I44 and around the reinforcing members it of the doors M2, whereupon the chains IE pass through suitable guides" 153 secured to a one side wall of the body. This sidewall also carries a set of toggle clamp units Ilfi'best shown in Figure 9, these being provided with chain tightening jaws Iil formed with recesses I74 to engage the links of the chains. The clamp units I'I J also include actuating levers I'M matters being so arranged that'when the levers I14 are moved upwardly to a position shown in Figure 8, the chains use are tightened by the jaws I12, being drawn in the direction of the arrow I16. The-toggle action of the clamps III], of course, prevents the chains I54 from becoming loose until the levers I74 are released, so that the clamps H0, in their locked position, will effectively retain the doors I42, I44 in their closed positions.

However, upon moving the levers I14 as shown at I78 in Figure 8, the chain I64 will be slackened and when the jaws I12 come in contact with the guides I68, the jaws will be released from the chain links and the chains will be automatically permitted to slide freely through the guides I68 thus, in turn, permitting the doors I42, I44 to become fully opened under the influence of gravity.

It is to be noted that the guides I68 are formed with cross shaped openings I80 to facilitate passage of the chains I64 therethrough, and if desired, suitable bolts, pins, or the like I82 may be provided in the free end portions of the chains I 64 as shown in Figure 3, which pins, being unable .to pass through the openings I89 of the guides I68, will function as effective stops for preventing the chains from sliding completely through the guides. It will be also noted that by selectively positioning these pins I82 in the links of the chains I 64, the extent of opening of the doors I42, I44 may be varied, thus varying the rate of discharge of the load accordingly.

Apart from handling loose material such as grain, coal, stones, etc., the invention may also be employed for hauling logs, timber, poles, and the like, this being facilitated by suitably. securing such logs, etc., to the body 69 and utilizing the hydraulic cylinders 14 for hoisting the body and the logs secured thereto, so that the logs clear the ground sufficiently for transportation purposes.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and, accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there hasbeen shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

Extensible and tiltable supporting means for dump trailer bodies, comprising a telescopic support member including upper and lower sections slidably telescoped together, a-transverse pivot pin extending through the lower end portion of the lower section for swingably connecting the support member to a trailer chassis, a pair of laterally projecting brackets secured to the lower section at opposite sides of the latter, a pair of ,hydraulic cylinders secured at one end. thereof to the respective brackets, said cylinders having 'piston rods parallel to the longitudinal. axis of said support member, a transverse shaft extending through the upper end portion of the upper section of the support member and having said piston rods connected thereto, and bracket means pivotally mounted on said shaft and adapted to be secured to a dump trailer body.

GLENN R. FIELDS.

SAMUEL s. BUMPUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

